About This Project

Hi, I’m Robin - a British-Japanese long-distance hiker and self-confessed trail nerd.

My grandfather was from the Tohoku region where the trail runs, and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake was a turning point in my life. I spent several months volunteering in the disaster-affected areas, and later worked for a nonprofit supporting long-term recovery along the coast.

In 2017, after hearing about a new trail linking towns most impacted by the tsunami, I began walking it - covering more than 600km before the Michinoku Coastal Trail officially opened. In 2022, I completed a full 1,000+km thru-hike and have since returned often, walking over 2,000km of the trail in total.

As I shared stories from the trail, people around the world began asking how they could walk it themselves. That curiosity grew into this free, volunteer-run guide, map, and community - the Michinoku Trail Walker project - created to encourage sustainable travel to the region and support its long-term recovery.

Alongside this, I also serve as a board member of the NPO Michinoku Trail Club, the organisation responsible for managing and promoting the trail.

This is very much a passion project. I cover the costs of running and updating the site myself, so if you’ve found it useful, buying me a coffee or becoming a monthly supporter is always appreciated (from as little as $3!) 🙏

You can also learn more about my other work on my personal website, or feel free to get in touch with questions, feedback, or collaboration ideas.

I hope the Michinoku Coastal Trail brings you as much joy as it has brought me over the years.

Happy trails! 🥾